U11 Boys Lionel Cox report
The Bucks 11&U team featured Daniel Dean at #1, Jack Chapman at #2 and making his county debut Joshua Stocker at #3. The boys began their tournament with a match against Suffolk. Joshua was overwhelmed by a boy ranked over a thousand places higher than him and Daniel bullied his way to a 6-1 6-2 win. That left Jack with a tricky match which ‘the cage fighter’ as he is now nicknamed came thorough 4 and 4. Next up was Norfolk. Daniel and Jack both won easily and Joshua played outstandingly well to take the match to a match tie break which he lost 10-8. Last in the group were Cambridgeshire. Daniel again won easily and Joshua worked his socks off but was just edged out. That left jack needing to win a tense match tie break to ensure the team made the final. After much finger nail biting by the supporters Jack won the tie break and it was final time. In the final it was the much fancied Essex team. Joshua never got into his match and with Jack desperate to emulate his heroics of earlier just could find a way through his higher rated opponent. Daniel however played brilliantly to win his match and ensure pride was restored. So the 11&U team finished runner up. Daniel with four wins out of four the stand out player.
U12 Boys Lionel cox report.
The 12&u team of Theo Kontos, Zack Macqueen and county debutant Tom Townsend had a tough Lionel Cox playing much stronger teams. It was Cambridgeshire first up and although Theo and Zack fought valiantly it was Cambridgeshire who came out on top. Tom at #3 scrapped furiously and finally wore his man down to claim a moral boosting win. Next up were Bedfordshire who were no match for the Bucks boys. Three wins in the bag there and to follow it was favourites Hertfordshire for a place in the final. The boys worked their socks off but against better players it was one sided traffic with the Bucks boys succumbing to a 0-3 loss. To the 5th/6th play-off which immediately got off to the worse possible start with Tom sustaining a side strain and having to retire due to the injury. Theo won a #1 in a tight affair but Zack playing his best match of the weekend couldn’t quite overturn his man. So it was 6th place and a very creditable performance all round.
Team Captain - Nigel Willard